Brake drum



Aug. 25, 1936 A. Y. DODGE 2,051,830

BRAKE DR UM Filed May 2, 1932 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES BRAKE DRUM Adiel Y. Dodge, South Bend, ma, assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application May 2, 1932, Serial No. 608,784 Claims. (01. 188--218) This invention relates to brake structures and more particularly to brake drums.

It is well known in the brake drum art that there is relatively small space in which to increase the height of the reinforcing flange of the drum, particularly in brake structures associated with vehicle wheels. Accordingly, it is proposed to use a reinforcing ring having its inner perimeter extended inwardly beyond the periphery of the drum. In practice, it has been found desirable to have the inner perimeter of the flange extended inwardly asfar as the anchor members and actuating member of the brake structure will permit. It has also been found desirable that means be provided for the removal of the reinforcing ring, so that disassembly or assembly of the brake unit may be effected, and to this end means isprovided for detachably -securing the flange to the drum, such means being readily accessible through openings in the backing'plate associated with the drum. I

Broadly, the invention comprehends a brake drum and a reinforcing means therefor including a detachable member or web and means for securing the member or web to the drum made readily accessible at all times.

Drums of this type are more particularly adaptable for use on heavy duty vehicles and it has been found desirable that such structures be used in combination with brake shoes of a particular type such as an angular shoe arranged so that the rigid portion of the shoe will engage with the rigid portion of the brake drum and the nonrigid portion of the shoe. will engage with the non-rigid portion of the drum. To that end brake shoes .of right angular cross section are provided-for cooperation with the braking surface of the drum.

An object of the invention is to provide a brake.

web.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake drum having a flange, and a demountable respect to the drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake shoe having a web formed on one edge only of the rim of the shoe, so that the braking surface of the shoe will present a rigid edge and a semiflexible edge and to so arrange the shoe for cooperation with the drum, that the rigid portion of the shoe will engage with the rigid portion of the drum andthe non-.rigidportion of the shoe will engage with the non-rigid portion of the drum.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which: 1 Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a brake structure taken just back of the head of the drum illustrating the invention as applied;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view substantially on line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating the relation of the shoes to the drum; and

Figure 4 is a modification of the drum and demountable flange. I f Referring to the drawing for more specific details of the invention, Ill represents a fixed support or a backing plate. The plate has associated therewith a drum II. The drum includes a braking flange I, provided with a relatively small peripheral integral reinforcing rib or web It, and this rib supports a reinforcing .ring or web I8,

made demountable, so that the ring or web may defining the channel is perpendicular to the body of the ring as atll. and the other side wall defining the channel is rounded or curved as at 24, so that the rib It may be easily'and quickly fitted into the channel, and secured in position by screws 26 threaded into the rib it. As shown, the particular arrangement of the reinforcing ring it lends suflicient strength and rigidity to the drum to withstand the outward pressure of the friction element and to withstand the disthe juxtaposed elements. Because of extending the reinforcing ring ll inwardly radially of the drum as far as the anchors and operating member of, the brake structure'the ring may be greatly increased in size.-

Positioned on the backing plate are suitable anchors 28 and steady rests ill. The steady rests support corresponding friction elements or shoes 32 and SI receiving the anchors 28. As shown, the articulated ends of the shoes are'connected by an adjusting member ID and positioned on the ,tortive eflects due to expansion or contraction of backing plate between the separable ends of the shoes is an operating member II.

The articulated ends of the shoes are connected by a spring 40 bridging the adjusting member 36. The separable ends of the shoes are connected by a return spring 42, and one of the shoes, preferably the primary shoe 32, is connected by an auxiliary return spring 44 to the backing plate.

It has. been found highly desirable to use in combination with a reinforced brake drum of the type above described a brake shoe having its web disposed at one edge of the shoe, or in other words, a shoe'substantially right angular in cross section, so that the rigid portion of the shoe will engage the rigid portion of the drum, and the non-rigid portion of the shoe will engage the reinforced portion of the drum. To that end the shoes 32 and 34 are each provided with webs 46 arranged at right angles to one edge of a suitable rim 48 having secured thereto in the conventional manner friction lining 50 adaptable for cooperation with the drum. While this type of shoe has been found highly desirable, it is to be clearly understood that various other types of shoes may be used in connection with drums of the type herein described with equally good effect.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in Figure 4 wherein the rib l6 has a beveled periphery as at 52 for engagement with an annular slot 54 in the demountable ring 56, the wall of which has a profile corresponding to the profile of the rib 16 so the ring 56 may be wedged into the annular slot where it may be secured as by screws 58 or other suitable securing means.

Although this inventionhas been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A brake drum having a head provided with a peripheral cylindrical braking portion having a demountable reinforcing ring secured thereto at the edge opposite the head of the drum, said demountable ring having a circular periphery concentric with the drum, and a backing plate having at its outer edge a laterally-projecting flange closely encircling said circular periphery, whereby the drum and backing plate form a substantially closed housing for a brake. 5

2. A brake drum having a head provided with a peripheral braking flange, a demountable reinforcing ring having a channel for the reception of the free edge of the peripheral flange opposite said head, and means for securing the demountable ring to the peripheral flange, said demountable ring having a circular periphery concentric with the drum, and a backing plate having at its outer edge a laterally-projecting flange closely encircling said circular periphery, whereby the drum and backing plate form a substantially closed housing for a brake.

3. A brake drum having a head integrally provided with a cylindrical peripheral braking flange, a demountable reinforcing ring on the free edge of the peripheral flange opposite said head, the demountable ring having the inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the drum, said demountable ring having a circular periphery concentric with the drum, and a backing plate having at its outer edge a laterally-projecting flange closely encircling said circular periphery, whereby the drum and backing plate form a substantially closed housing for a brake.

4. A brake structure comprising a drum having a peripheral flange, a reinforcing web supported on the peripheral flange, a friction element arranged for cooperation with the drum, said element including a web and an axially disposed rim supporting a liner for cooperation with the braking flange of the drum, the web of the friction element being positioned adjacent the head of the drum and extending throughout at least the greater part of the length of the friction element.

5. A brake comprising a drum having a'braking flange and a head, a friction element for cooperation with the drum having, for at least the greater part of its length, an L-shaped cross section, one leg thereof forming a braking surface and the other a reinforcing web, said web being arranged adjacent the head of the drum.

ADIEL Y. DODGE. 

